Reverse Culture Shock?

[cdnmatt]

Why can't you just report that your passport has been lost or stolen? You could just accidentally on purpose misplace it.

Can't you get a new passport if the old one was lost or stolen??

That is an option, but not one I'm willing to entertain at the moment. Simply because if I report a lost / stolen passport, it first has to go through a RCMP (police) investigation, which could take 2 or 3 months, before they're willing to issue a new passport.

Will try one last time politely, before shit hits the fan.

[werner]

That is an option, but not one I'm willing to entertain at the moment. Simply because if I report a lost / stolen passport, it first has to go through a RCMP (police) investigation, which could take 2 or 3 months, before they're willing to issue a new passport.

Will try one last time politely, before shit hits the fan.

Good heavens! It takes that long to replace a lost/stolen passport? I knew a Canadian whose passport was stolen in China. It seems that he had it replaced in a couple days, although he had to pay some outrageous fee. My passport was once stolen in Germany years ago. [I had left it in an unlocked drawer of my desk at work, and it was probably stolen by the night-time cleaning staff.] The ever efficient German police found it before I could even report the loss. Someone had evidentally tried to use it at the German border...

[snotface]

The humour in northern Europe is very much based on irony and sarcasm, which Thai people don't get at all.

Yes, irony and sarcasm tend to crash into the rocks of Thai literal-mindedness, particularly among the less-educated. I try not to use sarcasm at all, since it is usually perceived as plain aggression and hatefulness. Even the mildest form of irony can backfire as well. I have a good Thai friend Dton, who works in a Bangkok bar but comes to visit me in Pattaya quite often. We were sitting at Dick's Cafe in Jomtien one time and I was telling him how much he resembled a waiter there. The waiter wasn't at work that evening and I found myself exaggerating the resemblance mischievously. As we walked away after our meal I looked at Dton in mock puzzlement and said, 'Are you Dton or the waiter?' I can't believe any Westerner would have failed to realise at once that I was joking, but poor old Dton cried out in anguish, 'I am Dton!' 'I know, I know,' I had to reply tamely.

I don't mean to suggest that Thais are lacking in humour though. On the contrary, I find them to be one of the most delightfully humorous peoples in the world when it comes to appreciating life's absurdities.

[francois]

snotface, do you explain the meaning of your posting name (snotface) to your Thai friends?

[snotface]

snotface, do you explain the meaning of your posting name (snotface) to your Thai friends?

It's not occurred to me that they might be interested - but who knows, what with all that public nose-picking that goes on...

[Nirish guy]

As we walked away after our meal I looked at Dton in mock puzzlement and said, 'Are you Dton or the waiter?' ........... but poor old Dton cried out in anguish, 'I am Dton!' .

Perhaps he was more just quietly shaking his head in despair inwardly thinking "ohh FFS yet another one of those stupid racist farang who seemingly can't tell the difference between Thai people as they think we all look the same" - but - before you start to protest too much there about "NO, it ain't so" I have it on good authority from my asian BF that a lot of asians think EXACTLY the same about us in reverse so I wouldn't worry too much !

[a447]

... I have it on good authority from my asian BF that a lot of asians think EXACTLY the same about us in reverse so I wouldn't worry too much !

So true.

I was often told in Japan that we all look the same!

[paborn]

So true.

I was often told in Japan that we all look the same!

A few years back a Korean shop keeper in the US was charged with selling cigarettes to a minor. His lawyer won a landmark decision which validated that Asians have a very difficult time identifying age markers in Caucasians just as Asians look so young to us. That precident is now used in all cases involving Asian/Caucasian ID cases in US courts.

[cdnmatt]

Good heavens! It takes that long to replace a lost/stolen passport? I knew a Canadian whose passport was stolen in China. It seems that he had it replaced in a couple days, although he had to pay some outrageous fee. My passport was once stolen in Germany years ago. [I had left it in an unlocked drawer of my desk at work, and it was probably stolen by the night-time cleaning staff.] The ever efficient German police found it before I could even report the loss. Someone had evidentally tried to use it at the German border...

I don't know, I'm only going off what I've read on the internet. That, and I don't really want to push my luck, and give them an actual vvalid reason to deny me passport services.

First time I tried was in Victoria, and they just shrugged me off by saying "rules are rules". Didn't waste much time with them, as it was apparent they can only advise on what they think the decision will be, but don't have the authorization to make the actual decision. That happens in Vancouver.

So I came back home, read up on the law, and found out they can relax regulations such as this for compelling and compassionate reasons, so I gave that a shot. Wrote a two page letter explaining everything, included photographic evidence of genuine relationship, had both Leo and my mother write a letter, etc. Off to Vancouver I went alone (terrifying, as first time I've travelled blind alone), and they still said no. Reasons was they can't help me skirt the law, and trying to explain to them I'm not trying to skirt the law fell on deaf ears. In hindsight I fucked up by being too honest, and telling them I was refused entry at the Laos border in Nong Khai on a technicality. I should have lied, and said I was detained and deported upon trying to exit Thailand, and never made it to the Laos border.

Will try it one more time. This time, fuck the compassionate route, as I forgot that went out of society long ago. Will have the following:

1.) Letter from Laos immigration department in Vientiane stating I have no travel restrictions against me entering the country.
2.) Letter from Thai immigration stating that blacklist stamp is only for overstay, and not a criminal offense.
3.) Letter from Laos immigration lawyer stating I was refused only on a technicality (travelling via land border), and does not mean I'm blacklisted in any form.
4.) Letter from eye specialist in Khon Kaen vouching that Leo is indeed my caretaker.
5.) Letter from a Canadian doctor confirming that I am blind due to atrophic (sp) optic nerves.
6.) Copy of Thailand overstay laws.
7.) Letter from Canadian immigration lawyer stating whatever he/she deems necessary, but at the very least, the fact the law states that me having a 2 year limited validity passport is the only reason they need to grant my request, cancel the passport, and issue a new one.
8.) Letters from clients on company letterhead and signed stating I'm needed in Taiwan, Cyprus, and Israel.
9.) Personal letter from myself explaining everything. On top of being with my husband and caretaker, and visiting my clients, I also need to get to Hong Kong to incorporate, and Kuala Lumpur for dental surgery.
10.) Accounts of Canadians who have had this regulation relaxed for far less, such as wanting to sync their expiration date with their wife's passport.

And said Canadian immigration lawyer will be with me at the passport office next time I go. Then I don't know, but I may also search out a bunch of bitcoin conferences around the world coming up, and volunteer to be a speaker as well, showing even more need to be able to travel around the world. That's the best I can think of, because spending 9 months in Canada is going to be totally devastating for everyone -- myself, Leo, and my dogs.

[Manforallseasons]

Don't feed the troll!!!